The Sou'wester 59 hull is constructed by using the DualGuard Composite Construction and the patented SCRIMP process. Hinckley's DualGuard Composite Construction has a skin coat of chopped E-glass mat in low-shrink vinylester resin; an outer skin of Kevlar - E-glass; a core of aircraft grade balsa and high-density foam; and an inner skin of carbon. The chopped E-glass and vinylester resin provide a superior surface finish and a greater resistance to water osmosis. DuPont's Kevlar - E-glass fabric greatly increases the strength of the hull against damage caused by impacts. Standard exterior finish is white gelcoat. The core of aircraft grade balsa provides the greatest degree of stiffness and thermal - acoustic insulation possible. The inner skin of carbon is used for its superior stiffness and strength to weight ratios. In such areas as the hull - deck connecting flange, centerline and keel, chainplates, rudder posts, and all through hull fittings, the core is not used and the hull is massively reinforced with additional layers of fiberglass. The SCRIMP process, an advanced, closed-molding, resin infusion technique, uses a strong vacuum to saturate or infuse the "sandwich" with vinylester resin. A fiberglass hull stringer system is bonded to the hull and integrated with the mast step and engine mounts to form a single unit that is strong and light. The 23,000 lb. molded lead ballast (external to the hull to provide protection in the event of grounding) is cast of 3 percent antimonial lead and secured to the hull with 1-1-8" stainless steel bolts. A fiberglass foil-shaped centerboard with a bronze leading edge is controlled from the cockpit. The skeg mounted rudder is of hand laid fiberglass on a stainless steel framework welded to a 2 1-2 " stainless steel rudder post. An optional balanced spade rudder with either a stainless or titanium post can also be fitted. The core is deleted and replaced with solid layers of reinforcing glass in way of major penetrations and stress areas. The hull is laid up with a 6-inch recessed flange to receive the deck. The deck is bonded to this surface with a reinforced polyester adhesive and through bolted on 8-inch centers with additional fastenings in the area of the toe-rail tracks. This assures a strong, permanent, and water tight, hull - deck joint. The deck is a one piece molding which incorporates a hybrid knit fabric of Kevlar - E-glass (to reduce weight) and a core of divinycell. A Hinckley built stainless steel bow roller can be fitted to the custom cast 316 stainless steel stem iron and permits a plow anchor to be carried securely on deck and ready for use. The Sou'wester 59's center cockpit arrangement provides comfortable seating for the helmsman and crew. It is high enough to provide excellent visibility but not so high that is creates the ungainly appearance associated with many center cockpit designs. The cockpit sole is inlaid teak and can be removed if the engine must be taken out. The sail locker to port is equipped with an internal lock operable from the main cabin. Hinckley portlights are glazed with safety glass. A portlight opens into the galley area below. The Hinckley fiberglass pedestal features a 44" stainless steel binnacle and guard rail, illuminated switch panel, single user engine control, and engine instruments. An emergency tiller steering system is provided. Four winch handle pockets are provided. There is a large lazarette located aft and separate LP gas locker that drains overboard. All exterior teak is finished bright with six coats minimum of Hinckley tung-oil varnish. All cabins are finished in owner's choice of ash, mahogany, or cherry. The cabin sole is constructed of 3-4-inch solid teak with holly splines. Beneath the sole, amidships, are the stainless steel water tanks and heavy gauge aluminum fuel tanks. The U-shaped galley is located to port of the main cabin companionway. A three burner Force 10 LP stove with oven and broiler is gimbaled in a stainless steel enclosure. A large double sink is surrounded by generous Formica counters. A Grunert AR50 refrigeration - freezer system serves two separate compartments. The compartments have a minimum of 5-inch of insulation on freezer and 4-inch on refrigerator with aluminum vapor barrier next to wood work. The galley area is designed with extensive cabinet and shelf space - all galley cabinets have louvered doors. LP gas is stored in two #20 aluminum tanks with manual and electric solenoid shut offs controlled from the galley. The main cabin of the Sou'wester 59 has a dinette to port with a large drop leaf table. Optional storage is available in the table. A settee is to starboard. Two lockers with alcove between are outboard port and starboard. Storage is provided under seats. There are two cabins forward. Each has its own head with hanging locker and a hand-held shower installation with a nonskid fiberglass sole. Both forward cabins have two berths with lockers outboard. A bureau with mirror is located amidships. Bookshelves are fitted above each berth. The owner's cabin has both a double and single berth with drawers beneath and bureau between. A double hanging locker provides additional storage to starboard. The owner' s head is equipped with a stall shower. The navigation station is to starboard of the companionway in the main cabin. Space is provided for electronic equipment and the DC distributor panel. The navigation desk affords ample room for chart work. Drawers are located beneath. A wet locker is located just aft of the navigation station. An additional chart table and stowage is installed in the passageway leading aft. Lockers outboard and below provide useful stowage space. Spars are built by Hinckley of extruded aluminum. Optional carbon fiber mast and boom can be supplied. Airfoil-shaped spreaders are attached to the mast with spreader bars. Standing rigging is stainless steel rod with stainless steel turnbuckles. Chainplates are stainless steel plate throughbolted to fiberglass knees. A removable inner forestay with tensioner is provided. Mast wiring is run through PVC conduit within the mast. All aluminum parts are awlgripped to match primary deck color. Stainless steel parts are isolated from the aluminum. Extension running rigging is braided, cored Dacron. Halyards have 7 x 19 stainless steel wire ends for chafe resistance. Two flag halyards are provided. All blocks are roller-bearing type with stainless steel cheeks. A headstay manual roller furling system is provided. The main boom is fitted with two reefing lines. Electric or hydraulic main, genoa, and mizzen furling equipment is available. The mast is fitted with a foredeck flood light and masthead steaming light. Bulkhead mounted lights are positioned over berths, in dinette, and head area, and dome lights are provided for general cabin lighting with red filter dome in navigation area. All circuits, major mechanical components, metallic fittings, and rigging are grounded with heavy copper bonding to keel. A thrust bearing bolted to the engine beds absorbs propeller thrust, allowing the engine to be "soft-mounted." Soft mounts minimize engine vibration and noise transmission to the accommodations. The propeller thrust is absorbed by a thrust bearing bolted to the engine beds. Two constant velocity joints on a separate shaft couple the engine to the thrust bearing allowing the engine to be installed on flexible mounts to isolate from the engine vibration and noise. The water lift type exhaust system is made up of a fiberglass exhaust chamber and heavy duty exhaust hose. The engine room is sound insulated with lead foam and is equipped with a blower. The engine has alarms for low oil pressure and high coolant temperature conditions, and an emergency start feature is provided. A drip pan is provided under the engine. Fuel capacity is 344 gallons stored in two tanks. An optional generator with sound enclosure is available. 250 gallons of fresh water are stored in 2 separate stainless steel tanks. A heavy duty water pressure system is provided, complete with expansion tank. A stainless steel 12 gallon hot water tank is heated via the engine's heat exchanger or 110V AC. Hot and cold water is supplied to the galley and the three heads. A fresh water deckwash fitting is installed. There is one manual marine toilet equipped with USCG type I Lectra-San system and two electric Sealand Vacuflush toilets with holding tanks. Two fiberglass sump tanks collect drains from all showers, refrigerator - freezer, head sinks, and air conditioning pans (if fitted). Marelon ball-valve type seacocks are installed flush with hull.